[hider=Midway through the meeting, in the waiting room]“...and with the state of affairs being as it is, the Emperor has decided that it would be beneficial for some hands-on experience. You won’t be alone in this journey, we have one of our finest Templars on the case. Templar Jasek has spent a substantial amount of time fighting the Scorned. What we need you to do is to aid the newcomers with other affairs - your experience in long distance travelling, combat and other unpredictable situations produced by monsters will be invaluable in this quest.”

The silence in the waiting room hung thick and heavy, like a miasma of tension, as Thomas the Royal Guard finished explaining the situation to the older woman sprawled out across one of the velvety chaise-longues. For all intents and purposes, this peasant had no reason to be carrying herself so confidently in a house of royalty. But then again, her reputation eclipsed her unassuming appearance. Thomas had drew the short straw and was obligated to tell their latest arrival what the real purpose for her visit would be. Once he had finished talking, she sat upright, becoming taut and pulling the atmosphere of the room inwards with her movement. 

“So what you’re saying,” she responded slowly, “is that you brought me all the way out here [i]not[/i] so I could take a look at these sorry fools and give them my blessing? That I’m to-...go with them? Back to the mountain?”

“Yes, madam. That is what the Emperor has decided.”

The peasant nodded a couple of times, looking away. She tapped on her chin. “And he decided not to include this part in his letter because…?” she asked, with the slow deliberate tone of a teacher scolding some sort of unruly child. The guard leant back a little with revulsion - after all, this guest had no right to speak to him like that - but then again, she was personally invited by the Emperor himself...even if she did look like a haggard old beggar.

“A-although I am not privy to the Emperor’s thoughts, I would assume it was because he wanted you to come here personally.” Thomas cursed himself for stammering. His guest’s eyes snapped up at the flinch and she was watching him carefully.

“I mean,” she chuckled,” is this-...some kind of joke? Are you kidding me?” a bony hand ran through the coarse mat of hair as she looked around at the other guards - though there weren’t many - for confirmation. “I travelled for fuckin’ weeks to get out here just to be told that, surprise, I’m meant to go [i]with[/i] the cannon fodder straight into the heart of all the fuckupery in the realm? [i]After what happened last time?[/i]” 

Well, enough was enough; there was only a certain amount of disrespect that could be tolerated within the palace and this woman’s nerve was starting to irritate him. “Madam, if you don’t calm down, I’ll be forced to-”

“Forced to what, huh?” she got up out of her seat. “What the hell are you going to do? You’ve just asked me to skip off into hell for a suicide mission! Do you know who I am? You son of a bitch, I’ll fucking-”[/hider]

Some sort of argument has been persisting just outside of the throne room for a long time now, but it was only recently that the volume took a sharp increase - then silence for a few moments. The doors swung open. There were two guards to introduce the newest and latest arrival. They were apprehensive and stood close to her, fists clenched in frustration. “Your majesty,” called out the guard on the left. “Sue has arrived.” Compared to the rest of the arrivals, Sue was nondescript to the point of nigh-invisibility.She was wearing a beige-grey robe with a linen apron and sturdy leather boots. Her face was grimy with work and her hair was a dark blonde. She looked almost stereotypically like a peasant and were it not for the thunderous expression and her long, furious strides she could have easily blended into a crowd. Once she got even remotely close to the Emperor himself, several guards stood in her path. There was no need, however; once she got close enough to see the Emperor her expression changed. Her brows furrowed. 

“Darsun…” Sue sighed, peering at him warily. “I heard about your son, but is this really the right way to go about this?” She raised an arm and gestured vaguely towards the line of misfits behind her. “You’re expecting a bunch of strangers to do the impossible and win where an army and a prince failed? I owe you more than enough to justify going with them, but I want you to see reason before you lose another handful of heroes to this-...thing.”

“Please, Darsun,” Sue folded her arms. “Explain to me why you think this is even a remotely good idea, and I’ll follow your lead one last time.”